Oct19-25: Atonement and the Divine Initiative

SUNDAY-THURSDAY

The Mystery of God’s Love

1. Read Romans 5:6-8. What is the Greek definition of “without strength”?

• Rom. 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
• Rom. 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
• Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

ANSWER:

• “Without strength” in Greek- 772. as-then-ace´; from 1 (as a negative particle) and the base of 4599; strengthless (in various applications, literal, figurative and moral): — more feeble, impotent, sick, without strength, weak(-er, -ness, thing).

OBSERVATIONS:

• Ungodly people are without strength.
• The righteous and good man deserves someone else to die for them but not the ungodly.
• Sinners are ungodly.
• Christ died for us those who are “without strength” so that through His death we might receive strength.

2. In what way we are “without strength” and weak?

• Rom. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak (770) through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

OBSERVATION:

• “Weak” in Greek- 770. astheneo, as-then-eh´-o; from 772; to be feeble (in any sense): — be diseased, impotent folk (man), (be) sick, (be, be made) weak.
• Matt. 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak(772).

3. In the book of Romans, how did Paul describe the weakness of our flesh?

• Rom. 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

ANSWER:

• Your flesh cannot perform that which is good even though your spirit (mind) is willing.

CONCLUSION:

• The promise of atonement is the revelation of God’s love to man.
• God loves us even when we don’t have the strength to love Him. Only the love of God can help us to renew our strength to put our faith in God. We have no strength to do the right things on our own. However God gives us the strength to have faith in Him through His love so that through faith we may be able to submit to God who is able to perform it in us. The love of God enables us to experience the atonement that we may be one in love with Him. See how Abraham performed that which was good.
• Rom. 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
• Rom. 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
• Rom. 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
• Gal. 5:6 … faith which worketh by love.

Mystery of God’s Grace

1. Read Ephesians 1:7. What is “the riches of His grace” connected to within the text?

• Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace

OBSERVATION: “The riches of His grace” is connected to “redemption” Redemption means buying back. The grace of God is rich enough to buy us back to God. God’s grace is rich because the blood of Jesus is precious (1Pet. 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot). There is no sin that cannot be forgiven by the blood of Jesus.

2. Read Ephesians 1:6. What is “the glory of His grace” connected to within the text?

• Eph. 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

OBSERVATION: “The glory of His grace” is connected to “accepted in the beloved.”

OBSERVATION: The grace of Jesus is both rich and glorious. Grace is rich enough to buy us back and grace is glorious because sinners can be accepted in the Beloved. “Accepted in the Beloved” means that sinners through the riches of His grace when he or she is bought back to God, he or she will be accepted back to God as His own Son. This is the ultimate result of God’s atonement; to make us “accepted in the Beloved” so that we all can be one in Christ.

• Eph. 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
• Eph. 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him

An Eternal Plan (Mystery of the Mystery of God)

1. What do the following verses say about the mystery of God?

• Rom. 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began
• Eph. 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ
• Col. 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: Col. 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

ANSWER:

• Kept secret since the world began
• Hid in God from the beginning of the world
• Hid from ages and from generations

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• Why was the mystery of God kept hidden until the first century?

2. What is the mystery of God according to the following verses?

• Eph. 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: Eph. 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him
• Eph. 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Eph. 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
• Col. 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
• Eph. 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel. Rom. 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began

ANSWER:

• Eph. 1:9,10 – To Gather together in one all things in Christ both heaven and earth.
• Eph. 5:31, 32 – Union between Christ and the church.
• Col. 1:27 – Union between Christ and individual Christians.
• Eph. 6:19, Rom. 16:25 –The mystery of God is the gospel.

OBSERVATION:

• Ultimate fulfillment of the mystery of God is when heaven and earth unite in Christ at His coming.
• The marriage between Christ and the church has to take place before His coming. This marriage is a part of the mystery.
• The experience of “Christ in you the hope of glory” needs to be in you before you can have a part of the marriage between Christ and the church. This is the only way you can have the “hope of glory” at the Second Coming.
• The mystery of God is the everlasting gospel that will be proclaimed as the Three Angels message before the coming of Christ.
• Mystery of God (uniting in one) is the promise of atonement (uniting in one) for those who believe in Jesus.

The Way of the Cross (Jesus Gave Himself to Us)

1. Read Mark 10:45, Galatians 1:4, 2:20, Ephesians 5:2, and Titus 2:14.

• Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
• Gal. 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
• Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
• Eph. 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
• Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

2. What key theme is repeated in these texts?

ANSWER: Jesus gave Himself for us

3. What do they tell us about the plan of salvation?

ANSWER:

• Mark 10:45 – Jesus is our ransom.
• Gal. 1:4 – Jesus delivers us from evil.
• Gal. 2:20 – Jesus loves us.
• Eph. 5:2 – Jesus is our mediator (sweet smelling savor).
• Titus 2:14 – Jesus is our redeems us from all iniquity and purify us.

CONCLUSION:

• Because Jesus loves us, He, as our mediator, gave Himself for us in order to be our ransom so that we can be redeemed from iniquity, delivered from evil, and purified us to be His peculiar people.

4. What does it mean that God gave His only Begotten Son?

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Did God lend Jesus to us for 33 and a half years?
• Was the sacrifice of Jesus accomplished when He died on the cross or does it also include when He became a man?
• Did Jesus go back to heaven as who He was before He came to the earth?

5. Observe the sacrifice of Jesus in the following verses.

• Phil. 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
• Phil. 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
• Phil. 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

OBSERVATIONS:

• First sacrifice – taking the form of a man.
• Second sacrifice – the death of the cross.

CONCLUSION:

• Jesus gave himself to us when He became one of us and died for us.

6. Observe Jesus before He came to the earth and after His resurrection.

• Dan. 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
• Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
• Rev. 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
• Dan. 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
• Rev. 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

CONCLUSION:

• The title for Jesus is always the Son of God. However His form changed from the form of God to the form of man. Jesus forever became one of us in our form. In this way Jesus gave Himself for us as well. Therefore in order for God to be one with us (atonement), Jesus needed to pay the price of giving up the form of God forever and forever remain in the form of man.

God’s Plan Revealed in Jesus

1. Observe the following verses on “must.”

• Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
• Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
• Luke 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
• Luke 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
• Luke 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
• Luke 22:37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
• Luke 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
• Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

OBSERVATION:

• Jesus needed to fulfill the mission of the first part of the atonement on earth, which was giving Himself as the blameless sacrifice. This mission needed to be fulfilled in order to finish the final atonement in heaven.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What “must” you need to do in order to experience God’s atonement in your life?
• What “must” you need to do in order to share the mystery of God to others?
• What must change in your life today?